'Project Runway' Episode 4 Recap: Matters of Heart

by Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick (Subscribe to Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick's posts)
Posted Feb 5th 2010 at 5:03PM

Anthony Williams making soup work. Photo: MyLifetime.com

Last night's episode of "Project Runway" was heart-warming. The designers' clients were all women who have been profoundly affected by cardiovascular disease.

These vibrant ladies have experienced heart attacks, transplants and pacemakers, all at relatively young ages. They deserve a great dress. Some, but not all, will get them.

The Challenge: The designers are instructed by design mentor Tim Gunn to create a formal red dress that the women, all heart disease survivors, can wear to a charity function during New York Fashion Week. Since Campbell's Soup is a sponsor of the gala, as part of its Campbell's Address Your Heart campaign, the designers must also incorporate the company's branding into their designs.

We've seen soup labels on tote bags and Warhols before... so we hope the results are steamy, and not a hot mess.

The Bonus: The winning designer gets to accompany his/her muse to the fashion week gala and the design will also be produced as a limited edition charity item available for sale on PR's official Web site. The designers are so excited, we can almost feel the energy.

The Twist: Real women mean real curves. Some of the designers are having palpitations when they realize their models are not a "size two or size four." Seth Aaron Henderson, the Christian Dior-loving contestant, is especially frantic.

He frets when his full-figured model insists on Grecian-draping. It's not his style.

"A tough fit is a good lesson. I'm glad we have real women to work with," Gunn tells the designer. Henderson is not so sure."I want my mommy," he says. If Henderson makes it to fashion week, don't expect plus-size models on his runway.

The Workroom Drama: Jay Nicholas Sario weeps upon learning that his client, Julie, was technically dead for two minutes after collapsing in a restaurant. While, our favorite designer, Anthony Williams, shares that he brought his mother to live with him in Atlanta because she has heart disease and is so worried for the clients.

"It's bad enough they have heart disease. Now they have to go out there and have Heidi and Michael and Nina tell them they look horrible in our dresses." Time to put our hearts on our sleeves: Anthony, we will never stop loving you!

The Guest Judge: Marchesa designer and co-founder Georgina Chapman. She brings a stunning and enthusiastic presence -- as well as a great ponytail -- to the runway.

The Runway Show: Is making us hungry. Soup is mostly good (design) food. Campbell's labels are turning up in some weird places (hems, seams, on lapels), but hey, the shameless product placement is all for a cause. The best looks reminds us of a tomato-based minestrone, because, um, we really like tomato-based minestrone.

Best Line by a Judge: It's actually an exchange between Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia who hate designer Jesse LeNoir's dress, but love his client's assets. "Good bosoms," Heidi says. "Yes, excellent," agrees Nina.

Who's In: Young Texas designer Amy Sarabi wins with an ethereal, strapless gown that judge Michael Kors describes as the epitome of glamour. Now comes our opportunity to gloat. Remember, we singled out Sarabi as a sleeper talent during the potato sack challenge two weeks ago.

Why Are We Not Surprised?: Mila Hermanovski is in the judges' top three for the third week in a row. If she isn't at Bryant Park for PR's New York Fashion Week finale, we'll sip our minestrone cold. And we despise cold soup.

Who's Out: Jesus Estrada, 21, who lands in the bottom three for the third time. The judges have been questioning his taste level since the first week of competition. This time, his short, fitted dress with soup label seams does not read gala party. Worse, it is a walking exhibit of design cliches. "Where do I start?," asks Kors.

"He took a checklist of everything tacky and incorporated it into one outfit." Estrada takes his ouster in stride. "I made my client happy. She loved the dress," he says. "And I am young, There's more time to hear from Jesus Estrada."

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